Brian Billick Big On Lions
By: Mike Stone
When it comes to projecting the Detroit Lions 2012 season I put more stock in what a former head coach thinks than many media members. Brian Billick will be the analyst on Friday's national Fox broadcast of the Lions-Ravens game and he is very high on the Lions and in Matthew Stafford in particular.
Billick told me that he was concerned with Stafford's accuracy coming out of Georgia and was surprised by how far he has come. He believes that the Lions quarterback is ready to take the next step, saying "I think he is right on the cusp of being an elite quarterback." Billick was impressed by how Stafford was able to throw for over 5,000 yards considering the Lions lack of a running game. It is that running game or lack thereof that does have Billick concerned." Right now that's probably the biggest concern for Detroit. If you want to be critical of Schwartz and Mayhew the fact that they did not address the running back situation in the draft or free agency was surprising."
On the other side of the ball, Billick likes the "solid but not spectacular "linebacker but is worried about the secondary. As far as the season goes, Billick thinks the Bears are legit, but adds "I have power rankings and I am not sure I won't put the Lions ahead of the Bears."
You can listen to the entire interview below and follow him on Twitter @CoachBillick
